Embrace (Rocky x Chase)

Chapter 6- Emotion

Chase didn't have much real experience in relationships. He had dated Skye on and off for a week or two and even tried things out with Everest during a visit to the mountains. While it was fun to build their own relationships and spend time with the dogs he cared for, he never once felt that warm flicker of true romantic attraction. At first, he was confused, believing then that perhaps something was wrong with him. Skye and Everest were lovely in countless ways, so shouldn't he be able to feel those feelings? No matter what he tried, the spark between them never came. It all changed that night he spend with Rocky.

The crazy mix actually kissed him, driven forward by mental detachment. Chase didn't kiss him back but rather pushed him away with an instinctive paw into the other dog's chest, and then quickly began a long drop into the rabbit hole that was Rocky's schizophrenic, shattered mind. He wanted badly to help the mix, to bring Rocky into the light and get him the help he deserved, but lately, a new feeling had been itching at him. A feeling he was anxious to investigate and nervous to reveal. He couldn't get the initial kiss out of his head, and he caught himself revisiting the memory several times.

Chase poked idly at his food ball, another dog sitting across from him giving a suddenly hopeful look.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Rubble looked up from his own bowl, "because if you're not I'll happily take that-"

"No, Rubble," Chase rolled his eyes, "I'm just thinking,"

"Thinking," repeated the Bulldog, "I'm not good at that," he chuckled in a jolly tone, "and what's so interesting you forget about these beef chunks? Are you still thinking about those alley murders?"

The Shepherd shook his head absently, "no, not that either, but I do wish we'd get a lead or something on that psychopath."

"So what's on your mind?"

Chase sighed for a moment, debating on whether or not he should tell Rubble about his situation. Everyone was well aware of him taking Rocky out every now and then, it had earned him enough stares from Marshall and Skye, and questioning looks from Zuma. He didn't fully know how much of his reputation was on the line by interacting with Rocky, but he would fight to keep his name on his badge. Chase had more than enough bite and bark to control his teammates if it came to it. And yet, Rubble was an interesting case, a dog who didn't understand, yet kind of did. He was childish in nature, although faint glimmers of intellect pushed through his sluggish exterior.

"You ever spend a long time trying to look for something?" Chase inquired, "but you never find it, only to realize you were looking in the wrong place."

Rubble merely blinked, "did you lose something?"

"Not sure. To lose something means you had it first, I think the term 'missing' applies better here," Chase nodded,

"So what are you missing?" Rubble took a massive bite of his food,

The police dog looked to the side, giving a small shrug, "it's complicated, but I don't really understand why I'm missing it to begin with,"

"Chase, you've lost me," Rubble stared, unable to comprehend a word his friend was saying.

"Yeah, I think I've lost myself too," the Shepherd stood up, "on the second thought, you can have my bowl." Rubble gave an exciting sound of glee as Chase pushed his bowl over.

"Thanks Chase, you're the best!"

"Debatable," the police dog muttered, walking off back to his kennel. He briefly passed by Rocky's own den, and his mind swirled. The grey mix soon formed in his mind, no matter how hard he tried to push it away. Make no mistake, Rocky was dancing in Chase's head, and he had no idea why.